Steam valve



Feb. 24, 1942. G. N. SPENCE 2,274,436

I STEAM VALVE Filed July 2'7, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 050265 /1 Spa/v05Fb.24, 1942. G. N. SPENCE' 2,274,436

- 5mm VALVE v Filed July '27, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 G50? 65 SPE/VCEPatented Feb. 24, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEAM VALVE George N.Spence, Wilmington, Del.

Application July 27, 1940, Serial No. 347,976

4 Claims.

My invention relates to steam valves and more particularly to a steamvalve for use in steam heating systems of the type conventionally termedone-pipe systems.

My invention has'for one of its objects the provision of means forpermitting unmodified use of the valve and its connected radiator whenthe valve is in either partially or fully opened position; yet at thesame time means are provided for permitting the drainage of water ofcondensation which otherwise would collect in the radiator when the mainvalve is closed or partially open.

In one of its broad aspects, my invention comprises means for drainingthe water of condensation from the radiator when the main valve isclosed, partially open, or in fact in any position, yet retaining awater seal which will prevent bypassing of the main valve by the steamfrom the inlet or riser pipe.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical end view of my valve, one partof the valve being broken away to disclose a section. Figure 2 is acentral vertical sectional view of my valve with the main valve shown inopen position. Figure 3 is a cross sectional plan view taken on the line3--3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a vertical cross section taken on the lineI-4 of Figure 2. Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of myauxiliary valve. Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional detail showing theauxiliary valve and the manner of its suspension.

In each of the figures of my drawings, corresponding parts arerepresented with identical ref erence characters on the several views.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 2 thereof, Irepresents a valve handle suitably connected to a valve stem 2, aportion of the lower extremity of which is threaded as shown at 3 andconnected to a valve gate 4. A suitable washer or packing is recessed onthe under or contact side of valve gate 4 and held in place by asuitable nut 6 which coacts with the threaded extremity 'I of the valvestem 2.

A threaded hood 8 which is surmounted by a stuffing box 9 and providedwith a suitable packing II] is threaded into engaging position with themain valve housing II. The main valve casing II is formed with anexteriorly screw threaded outlet extension I2 at one side thereof. Thelower portion of the housing II is formed into an inlet I2 which isinteriorly threaded and adapted for connection with a suitable steampipe or riser I5. The exteriorly threaded steam outlet I2 is connectedwith a radiator pipe coupling I6 held in place by the lock cap I1. Thecoupling I6 is exteriorly threaded as shown at I9 for engagement withthe radiator, not shown, and for providing the passageway I8 for steamor water of condensation.

Arranged within the main housing II of the valve is a horizontallyextending ledge I3 having an annular opening therein, I4, and soarranged with regard to size and location as to provide a seat for thevalve gate 4. The lower portion 20 of the steam outlet I2 is providedwith an inwardly and upwardly extending member 2I, the upper extremityof which is at an elevation higher than the lower extremity of thevertical partition 22' which is connected with the valve seat ledge I3.The member 22 serves as a partition wall and seal for any liquid whichis trapped in the U- shaped space formed by the exterior wall 20 of themain valve housing I I and the interior member 2 I.

Adjacent the lower portion of the U-shaped basin formed by the wall 2|]and the member 2|,

I'provide in each face of the valve openings 23 which are interiorlythreaded and which cooperate with the threaded stems 24 of the plugs 25.To provide more firm seating of the plugs 25, shoulders 25' may beformed on the exterior faces of the valve housing II. The removal ofeither or both of plugs 25 permits drainage and cleaning of the base ofthe U-shaped basin or trap.

Connected with the valve ledge I3 and preferably integral therewith isan extension 29 which, with the lower portion of the main outlet I2,forms a substantially circular auxiliary I opening. Within thissubstantially circular auxiliary opening, an auxiliary valve 21,supported on a pin 28 which is held in place by members 26, is suspendedin such manner as to provide unimpeded rotation through an are. Aperforated wedge-shaped member 30, held in place by means of key 3I,functions as a seat for the freely suspended auxiliary valve 21.

My improved steam valve operates in the manner hereinafter described.The main valve 4 is of course raised or lowered through the operation ofthe valve handle I. In raised position, the valve seat I 3 is of courseuncovered and free passage is provided for steam introduced into themain valve through the riser pipe I5. Steam so introduced flows throughthe valve opening I4 and thence through the coupling I6 and opening I8into the radiator, not shown. When the valve seat 4 is lowered intoclosed position, the passage of steam from the riser pipe I5 and intothe radiator through the coupling I6 is prevented. In the illustrationin Figure 2, the main valve 4 is shown in fully open position. It may,of course, be lowered to any position short of fully closed position andpassage will be provided for the steam supplied by riser pipe 15.

In normal operation of the undisclosed radiator, steam will be suppliedthrough the fully or partially opened valve 4 in order to supply therequisite hot steam for heating the radiator and the surroundingsthereof. Under such conditions, the pressure of the steam within theundisclosed radiator will be very close to, if not substantially thesame as, the steam pressure existing in the riser pipe l5. If, however,it is desired to reduce the heating effect of the radiator, the valve 4is closed, thereby preventing the introduction of steam from riser pipel5 and into the radiator. The existing steam trapped in the radiatorwill, upon cooling, condense and form water which will tend to collectin the lower portions of the radiator and more particularly in thecoupling It. If no means were provided for bleeding this water back intothe steam system, it would remain at the outlet end of the steam valve 4until some future time when the valve 4 were open. At this time, thesteam introduced through the valve seat 13 would encounter a plug ofwater and the noisy hammering which is so undesirable in steam heatingsystems would ensue.

In my improved steam valve, I have provided means for eliminating thecollection of water when the main steam valve 4 is closed. Myarrangement permits a slow, controlled, yet positive, return of thecondensed steam through a valve by-pass around the main valve seat I3.Water of condensation collecting in the coupling I6 and the radiatorconnected therewith, when in suflicient quantities to exert an effectivehead, will move the flap valve 27 outwardly to a position represented bythe dotted lines on Figure 2 or to some position intermediate that offully opened and fully closed positions. The water will then drain downinto the U-shaped trap until it reaches a level which permits it tooverflow the lip of the member 2|. Itwill then run slowly down theinterior edge of the member 2! and into the steam riser l5. Water,however, will at all times remain in the U-shaped trap and form a waterseal which, in conjunction with the flap valve 21, will prevent steam inthe riser l5 from by-passing the closed main valve 4.

I am aware of United States Patent 893,527 granted to J. J. Lawler. Myimproved steam valve, because of its provision of the water seal in thetrap formed by members 2B, 2! and 22, functions positively in preventingthe undesired by-passing of the main valve 4. In the event that thepressure of the steam in the riser I5 increases unduly, the watertrapped in my water seal will be forced back and upwardly against theflap valve 21 and eifect a positive closing thereof, while in theconstruction of the Lawler patent, no such insurance of the closing ofLawlers valve is provided. Consequently, water is not permitted toremain in the radiator when my improved valve is used. There is lessrusting and sedimentation of the interior of the radiator and thereresults complete freedom of the water hammer and undesired noise of theprior art radiators used in the so-called one-pipe steam heatingsystems. Any sedimentation or dirt carried out of the radiator iscollected at the bottom of the water trap and may be readily removed bythe simple expedient of removing the clean-out plug 25, draining thecontents of the water trap and rushing out the base of the water seal.

In addition to the above described features of my invention there is anadditional and important advantage. The cooperation of my auxiliaryvalve and the connecting passage terminating in the water seal permitscontrolled seepage of water of condensation even when the main steamvalve is in partially opened or fully opened position. Water ofcondensation is thus permitted to fiow from the radiator and thence tothe steam inlet pipe under any conditions existing in the heatingsystem, i. e. when the main steam valve is in any position. Thus anycollection of water in the main steam valve is prevented and water ofcondensation can flow slowly thru the auxiliary valve and gently overthe lip of the member 2| from whence it is discharged in drops or in asmall stream down the side of the steam riser pipe.

Because of the improvements which I have incorporated in my steam valve,I am able to use my valve not only on atmospheric pressure steam heatingsystems, and of course low pressure or vacuum systems, but also on steamheating systems employing pressures considerably higher than those whichwere usable in the past. I contemplate, if desired, the addition of anauxiliary ball valve and seat preferably located at the bottom of mywater trap so as to provide additional insurance against the by-passingof the main valve 4 when very high steam pressure is employed in thesystem.

The invention which I have described above and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings represents a preferred arrangement of elementswithin the scope of my invention. The representation, however, is by wayof illustration and not by way of limitation and different variationsmay of course be made without distinguishing from the spirit of myinvention within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A steam valve adapted for one pipe steam heating systems comprisingan inlet port, an outlet port, a main valve and a valve seat for saidmain valve, a by-pass around said main valve, a flap valve hingedlymounted in a normally closed position in said by-pass adjacent of saidoutlet port, said flap valve being operably responsive to the pressureof water of condensation to permit the flow of said water therethroughwhen said main valve is in any position, a water seal positioned belowsaid flap valve to receive the water of condensation flowing from saidfiap valve and provide a water by-pass around said main valve whilepreventing the passage of steam through said by-pass, said flap valvebeing spaced apart from said water seal to prevent contact between saidvalve and the fluid in said seal.

v2. A steam valve adapted for one-pipe steam heating systems comprisinga casing having a steam inlet, a steam outlet and a main passagetherebetween, a main valve and a main valve seat positioned in said mainpassage between said inlet and outlet, an auxiliary passage around saidmain valve, the inlet end of said auxiliary passage being adjacent saidsteam outlet and the outlet end of said auxiliary passage being adjacentsaid steam inlet, a flap valve hingedly mounted in a normally closedposition in said auxiliary passage adjacent the inlet end thereof, awater seal positioned in said auxiliary passage adjacent the outlet endthereof, said flap valve being spaced apart from said water seal toprevent contact between said valve and the fluid in said seal, saidauxiliary passage, flap valve and water seal providing a by-pass forwater of condensation in said system around said main valve whilepreventing the passage of steam through said auxiliary passage from theinlet side to the outlet side of said main valve.

3. A unitary steam valve adapted for one-pipe steam heating systemscomprising a casing having a steam inlet and a steam outlet, a mainpassage between said inlet and outlet, an auxiliary passage in saidcasing between said inlet and outlet, 2. main valve and valve seatpositioned in said main passage between said inlet and outlet, a flapvalve hingedly mounted in a normally closed position in said auxiliarypassage between said inlet and outlet, a water seal in said auxiliarypassage between said flap valve and said inlet, said flap valve beingspaced apart from said water seal to prevent contact between said valveand the fluid in said seal, said auxiliary passage, flap valve and waterseal providing a by-pass for water of condensation in said system aroundsaid main valve while preventing the passage of steam through saidauxiliary passage.

4. A unitary steam valve adapted for one-pipe steam heating systemscomprising a casing having a steam inlet, a steam outlet and a mainpassage between said inlet and outlet, a plate in said main passageextending from said steam outlet across said main passage to form a mainoutlet and an auxiliary opening, said plate being provided with a steamport and a valve seat, a main valve, a second plate depending from saidfirst named plate toward said steam inlet and adjacent said casing toform an auxiliary passage, a curved plate extending outwardly from saidcasing below said depending plate and up wardly adjacent said dependingplate to form a U-shaped extension of said auxiliary passage and a waterseal, a flap valve in said auxiliary passage, means for hingedlymounting said valve in a normally closed position adjacent saidauxiliary opening, said flap valve being spaced apart from said waterseal to prevent contact between said valve and the fluid in said seal,said auxiliary passage, flap valve and Water seal providing a by-passfor water of condensation in said system around said main valve whilepreventing the passage of steam through said auxiliary passage.

GEORGE N. SPENCE.,

